Can-opener.



E. W. DEXTER.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 8. 19|2.

1, 175 721 Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

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ELWOOD W. DEXTER, OF MATTAPOISETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. ML, 1916.

Application filed June 8, 1912. Serial No. 702,556.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELwooD W. DEXTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mattapoisett, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to can openers, the object in view being to provide a device of the-class referred to which is especially designed for use .in connection with a dished can top or cover now in' common use, the construction embodying an arrangement, under which the can opener is contained wholly within the plane of the dished cover of the can, when not in use, thereby enabling the cans to be more compactly placed in a shipping case, and avoiding any possibility of the can opener being injured, and furthermore insuring the can opener being ready for use whenever required.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a can, showing the opener attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a diametrical section through the can top, showing the opener in its operative position. Fig. 3 is a diametrical section through the cover, showing the opener in its folded position.

Referring to the drawings,

an ordinary can, such as is used for paints, oils, and other hounds,

and 2 the dished top or cover for the can, with the usual outwardly extending circumferential flange or rim'along the top edge thereof.

The can opener of this invention consists of a simple lever or pinch bar3, adapted for the use of prying up the flange of the cover, in the operation of removing the latter from the can, the position of use of the lever being clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

. The lever 3 is made of a length which will adapt it to extend diametrically across the dished cover and lie wholly within the plane of the cover, as shown in Fig. 8, and said lever has its inner end or shorter arm point- 1 designateswhich is provided inner end of which is pivotally attached, as

shown at 7, to a lug 8 secured in any convenlent manner to the cover. The link is double, or in other words, is provided withparallel side portions, as shown, and these side portlons are sufficiently remote from each other to allow the pointed extremity of the lever to pass between the same. This is done in order to permit-the lever to be swung inwardly to its folded position, or swung outwardly to its operative position, as shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the opening lever is always attached to the cover or top of the can, and after prying open the cover, said lever may be used as a handle for lifting the cover and replacing it upon the can, thus obviating soiling of the fingers with the paint, oil, or other, contents of the can. It also effects a great saving in time, as it is unnecessary to search for a can opener.

What is claimed is:

In combination a can, a dish shaped cover mounted upon the top of said can and having an annular flange overlying the top of said can, an angle iron support secured upon the bottom of said cover, an opening lever mountedwithin said dish shaped cover and having a pointed bill. a wire member having two sides pivotally connected to said opening lever, said wire member beingvpivotally secured to said support and being of such a length and being so disposed upon said lever that when the pointed bill thereof engages the flange of the cover said wire member will have its lower end disposed in advance of said pointed bill whereby said lever may act as a fixed support to cause said wire member to raise said cover from the can.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELWOOD w. DEXTER. Witnesses EVERETT In. MARCHAND, ALICE M. WATTERSON. 

